"I am unable to tell you just where he is at present," said Frank, with that perfect coolness that so astonished the desperadoes. "He left me last night."
"Left you?"
"Yes."
"How? We had this side guarded, an' ther boys below kept close watch."
"All the same, I think Joe Crowfoot passed you. How he did it I do not know. He told me he could."
The leader of the ruffians looked as if he was not yet willing to believe such a thing had happened; but there no longer seemed much chance for doubt.
"Then it must have been that red whelp who stole one of our hosses!" he said.
"I think it was," nodded Merry. "Something like two hours after he left me I heard a commotion this way, followed by some shooting and the sound of a galloping horse, which died out in the distance."
Some of the men began to swear, but Bill silenced them with one swift look from his evil eyes.